Uno-X gears up for Tour de France: Ambitious lineup and strategic focus for stage success

Uno-X gears up for Tour de France: Ambitious lineup and strategic focus for stage success

In a press release sent out to the media, Uno-X - the team that received one of the wildcards in January - has become the first team to announce its selection for the Tour de France. The Norwegian ProTour squad is clearly bringing several (powerful) team leaders to La Grande Boucle, where they can also deploy multiple riders in the battle for stage success.

The team made a strong impression during last year's Tour de France, achieving an impressive eleven top-ten finishes," former pro Thor Hushovd, who now serves as team director, explained in the press release. "This year, we have assembled a team that we believe can take another step forward compared to last year."

"Our focus in selecting the team was on finding a good balance of lead-out skills, climbing abilities, and overall strength," continued the now 46-year-old Hushovd. "The riders we have chosen complement each other well, and I am confident that we will make our mark on various stages of the Tour."

Confidence is certainly not lacking at Uno-X, which can rely on riders like Magnus Cort, Alexander Kristoff, and Søren Wærenskjold for the sprint stages. However, specific roles—whether they will sprint with one person or multiple riders—are not yet clearly defined. "We continue to build the team around Norway's and Denmark's top cyclists, and it's very exciting to have both Magnus and Alexander on the team this year," added Hushovd.

For the tougher stages, riders like Cort, Kristoff, and Wærenskjold could potentially play crucial roles, though others like Rasmus Tiller and Jonas Abrahamsen will also be looking to seize their opportunities. In terms of climbing, Tobias Halland Johannessen and Johannes Kulset—whom Hushovd regards as one of Norway's greatest climbing talents—have been selected. Odd Christian Eiking will lead the way as road captain. Finally, Markus Hoelgaard, Anders Skaarseth, and Andreas Leknessund are listed on the reserve list.

Selection Uno-X Tour de France 2024

Magnus Cort

Alexander Kristoff

Søren Wærenskjold

Jonas Abrahamsen

Tobias Halland Johannessen

Johannes Kulset

Rasmus Fossum Tiller

Odd Christian Eiking